The Ruleset Can Decide the Fight: My First Three Splinterlands Shorts

The cards are only half the battle in Splinterlands.

You can build what looks like the perfect team, press Battle, and then watch everything fall apart because one little modifier icon changed the way the entire match works.

We’ve all been there.

I’ve started a series of short, visual modifier guides for Phoenix Reborn TV. They’re designed to help newer players understand the rule, see it in action and identify the abilities that can turn it to their advantage.

No twenty-minute lecture. No wall of rulebook text. Just one modifier, one useful example and a few things to remember before submitting your team.

Here are my first three Splinterlands Briefs.

01 — Earthquake: Same Quake, Different Fates

Earthquake deals two physical damage to every non-Flying unit each round, beginning with round two.

That damage adds up quickly. A strong ground unit can disappear after a few rounds without the opposing team landing the finishing blow.

Flying avoids Earthquake completely, while Shield can reduce the damage. However, an enemy with Snare can remove Flying and leave your supposedly safe unit exposed to the next quake.

My quick drafting checklist:

• Flying avoids Earthquake.
• Shield reduces its physical damage.
• Snare brings enemy flyers back down to earth.
• Check the other active modifiers before committing your team.

▶️ Watch Earthquake Explained⁠

02 — Noxious Fumes: Poisoned Before the Fight

Noxious Fumes doesn’t wait for the first attack. Every unit begins the battle Poisoned and starts losing two health per round from round two.

The crucial detail is that the modifier applies Poison only once.

A unit with Immunity never receives that starting Poison. Cleanse can remove it—and after that original application has gone, Noxious Fumes does not automatically apply it again.

Healing and high-health units can also help you survive long enough to win the race.

My survival kit:

• Immunity prevents the starting Poison.
• Cleanse removes it.
• Healing and high health help you outlast the opposing team.
• Armour, Shield and Void do not stop Poison damage.

▶️ Watch Noxious Fumes Explained⁠

03 — Explosive Weaponry: One Hit, Three Health Bars

Explosive Weaponry gives every unit Blast.

A successful attack damages its target normally, then deals extra damage to the units beside it. That splash damage is half the main attack’s damage, rounded up.

If a unit in the middle of the formation is targeted, both of its neighbours can be hit. Positioning suddenly determines how much value every enemy attack can create.

Deflect ignores Blast damage. Divine Shield can absorb a splash hit. Armour and Shield help against physical Blast, while Void reduces magical Blast.

Targeting matters too. Sneak, Snipe, Opportunity and Scattershot can all change where the explosion lands.

My checklist:

• Protect important units with the right neighbours.
• Avoid clustering fragile cards where one attack can create several knockouts.
• Use Deflect and Divine Shield to disrupt Blast damage.
• Think about where each targeting ability will make the explosion land.

▶️ Watch Explosive Weaponry Explained⁠

More Modifier Briefs

These are the first three episodes, but they’re only the beginning.

You can watch the full series here:

▶️ Splinterlands Modifiers Explained playlist⁠

If these guides help you make a better battle decision, please subscribe to Phoenix Reborn TV⁠ and follow me here on Hive. Sharing the series with a newer player would help too—especially if they are still wondering what all those modifier icons actually mean.

Now over to you:

Which of these three modifiers gives you the most trouble, and what is your favourite way to play around it? And what other modifiers give you trouble?

Let me know in the comments. Your suggestion might become one of my next modifier briefs.